House of VLAdiLA and The Climate Change Company, the big winners of the Startarium competition “Romanians are entrepreneurs”

The Startarium competition “Romanians are entrepreneurs”, initiated by Impact Hub and ING Bank, with the support of Pluxee, designated its winners on November 29, during an event organized at the Radisson Hotel in Bucharest. 14 entrepreneurs entered the grand final, 7 for each category of the pitch competition, Startup and Running Ops.

They had the opportunity to present their businesses on the stage, in front of 600 participants and a jury made up of mentors and representatives of the business environment. After judging, 2 winning companies were chosen for each category, who were awarded a total of 90,000 euros, non-refundable. The grand prize winners are The Climate Change Company (Startup) and House of VLAdiLA (Running Ops).

The podium for each category looked like this:

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Startup:

1st Prize: The Climate Change Company (20,000 euros, non-refundable)

2nd Prize: PiciordePlay (10,000 euros, non-refundable)

Running Ops:

1st Prize: House of VLAdiLA (40,000 euros, non-refundable)

2nd Prize: BRIO (20,000 euros, non-refundable)

In addition, within the Startarium competition “Romanians are entrepreneurs” 10 additional prizes were awarded, worth 1,000 euros each, for the 10 most voted business ideas entered in the section Ideea ta (Your Idea). Voting was open to the public until December 1st, and section winners were announced publicly on startarium.ro.

“ returned with the same force and energy in 2023 as in the previous editions of the competition. The 2023 edition also marked a series of important novelties: the joining of Pluxee as a partner of the event and the Startarium.ro platform, together with ING Bank, the expansion of the competition with two new categories, dedicated to both aspiring entrepreneurs and companies that have passed the startup stage and, last but not least, the evolution of into a true festival of entrepreneurship, offering participants not only a platform for competition, but also a conducive environment to experience belonging to a strong, dynamic community, to education and inspiration.The fact that we have 4 winners who have real and feasible solutions as a business model to problems related to the economic and social agenda of Romania – education, access to culture, creative industries, infrastructure and environment proves once again that entrepreneurship is one of the pillars of growth for all of us,” said Vlad Craioveanu, CEO and co-founder of Impact Hub Bucharest.

This year, the iconic Startarium Pitch Day event took place under a new identity – Romanians are entrepreneurs, designed to celebrate the national entrepreneurial spirit, bringing the competition closer to the general public and encouraging more entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs to follow their professional passion.

“In ING, we support the growth of startups and small companies, so we were happy to resume one of the most important competitions for entrepreneurs in Romania. We are excited to discover new businesses cultivated with passion, but also to see the evolution of those we already knew. The scene was full of emotions, enthusiasm and effervescence. It was an incredible experience for all those who participated because they practiced how to build and support a pitch, how to convince a jury, made up of mentors and experienced representatives from the business environment, that their business deserves to be a winner.56 businesses were selected for the semi-final , and 14 reached the final. We congratulate the big winners, but also all the brave entrepreneurs who entered the competition. We will follow their progress closely!”, said Luana Sorescu, Head of Clients, Business Banking division, ING Bank Romania.

Who are the big winners?

Startups:

1^st Place: The Climate Change Company

The Climate Change Company develops turnkey, innovative and high-impact solutions aimed at contributing to the improvement of the ecosystem in which we live and, implicitly, to the betterment of the planet.

Through the project Littar, the Climate Change Company turns plastic and glass waste into state-of-the-art asphalt, leaving its mark on the future of sustainable infrastructure and the circular economy.

“This distinction is not only a victory for us, but also for all those who believe in a greener future. It reminds us that when we come together, driven by passion and purpose, we can successfully tackle the complex issues we face as a planet and society. It is an impetus for us to continue to develop sustainable solutions and inspire others to join our effort to create a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations. Thank you to everyone who has been with us on this journey of positive change,” said Sebastian Tudose, co-founder of The Climate Change Company.

2^nd Place: PiciordePlay

PiciordePlay is the Romanian streaming platform that started its activity during the pandemic, in the summer of 2021. The project aims to bring the theater closer to Romanians everywhere, offering them the opportunity to watch their favorite plays online.

To date, PiciordePlay has streamed more than 30 live performances, 10 recordings and attracted more than 10,000 users to the platform. The platform has partnerships with some of the most appreciated Romanian cultural institutions, such as the Bucharest National Theatre, the Bulandra Theatre, the Nottara Theater or the Comedy Theatre.

“We are honored and proud to be recognized by such an important competition as Startarium . This award is not only a personal achievement for the PiciordePlay team, but also a validation of the fact that there is a strong interest in the area of ​​culture and art. We have undertaken the mission of creating a bridge between culture, art and the modern consumer, wherever he is, and this award confirms that we are on the right track. The funds won will be an essential support in the continuation of this journey”, said Alexandru Aramă, co-founder of PiciordePlay.

The other 5 startups that entered the Startarium finals “Romanians are entrepreneurs” are: Mașini la cheie, MommyHAI, Offbeat, Smilemobilul și Voidship.

Running Ops:

1^st Place: House of VLAdiLA

House of VLAdiLA is a brand founded by Oana and Dragoș Vlădilă that combines art and interior design in the development of products such as custom wallpaper, velvet and designer furniture. Oana, an architect, and Dragoș, with expertise in entrepreneurship, aim to innovate in the field of interior design. Modern printing technology combines with hand drawing, ensuring top quality. Everything is produced in-house, respecting sustainability standards: natural, ecological and biodegradable materials, without toxic substances.

“We are proud that House of VLAdiLA is the big winner of the competition and we thank the organizers and jurors for the trust shown! We see this victory as a recognition of our work and passion, but also as a great responsibility. We aim to put Romania on the map of international design and become a reference brand”, said Dragoș Vlădilă, co-founder of House of VLAdiLA.

2^nd place: BRIO

Founded in 2014, BRIO is the scientifically based solutions platform for improving school performance, intended for students, parents, educators, schools and other institutions involved in the educational act in Romania. Through the BRIO tests, the project aims to provide users with standardized digitized tests, through which Romanian students from grades I-XII can objectively evaluate their knowledge of the main school subjects and improve their performance in exams.

“This award proves to us that education remains a priority in Romania and inspires us to move forward and work more and more intensively to provide learning opportunities and improve school performance throughout the country. We are determined to contribute to increasing the level of education in Romania and to offer students the tools they need for a brighter future”, said Gabi Bartic, co-founder of BRIO.

In addition to the 2 winners, they also entered the finals of the Running Ops category: Beesers, Bright Spaces, cautcurier.ro, Helperz.ro and Spark Online School.

“I was happy to see that on the stage of the event there were Romanians passionate about what they do, who become a source of inspiration for others due to the fact that they are able to have a broader vision, for which the good of the people and positive impact in the local community are prioritized.

Pluxee joined the Startarium project this year, believing that educating and supporting Romanian entrepreneurs has a significant potential to generate a long-term economic impact. We will continue our strategy of supporting the entrepreneurial community in Romania by being with entrepreneurs with excellent ideas at the beginning of the road, but also with businesses that continue to grow and need resources and financing for sustainable development”, said Manuel Fernandez Amezaga , CEO Pluxee Romania and Bulgaria.

600 people took part in the Startarium grand final “Romanians are entrepreneurs”

Approximately 600 people took part, in the hall, in the presentations and discussions proposed by the competition organizers.

Among those who took the stage at the opening of the event were Vlad Craioveanu – CEO & Cofounder Impact Hub Bucharest, Dan Ștefan – Managing Partner Autonom Group, Delia Olteanu – SME Customer Strategy Manager at ING Bank, and Manuel Fernandez Amezaga – CEO Pluxee România and Bulgaria.

Later, in the panel “The future of business in Romania: entrepreneurs on the rise”, organized with the support of Romanian Business Leaders, a series of business leaders shared their experiences and perspectives on innovation and success in Romanian entrepreneurship. They were: Iulian Nedea – CEO and Cofounder Simtel, Cristian Logofătu – Entrepreneur, board member Bittnet, Andreea Pipernea – Managing Partner Exit by Choice and Delia Dragomir – CEO and Cofounder Eucom Business Language.

Releases presented on the main stage

The main stage was also the host of the launch of a new module within the Startarium platform: Startarium eXP(erience) offers entrepreneurs interactive learning experiences, going beyond traditional online courses. Lasting one month, each course includes 4 modules, quizzes, a Q&A session and a final project with feedback, and those who complete a course can benefit from 3 free mentoring sessions. Registration for the first two courses, Small Business Financial Management and Web Analytics, begins on December 8, on Startarium.

Another important moment was the pre-release of the mapping „Green Startups Ecosystem Overview Report 2023”. Now in its third edition, the report presents an analysis of green startups in Romania, supporting organizations and initiatives promoting a transition to a climate-neutral society. The official launch of the Green Startups Ecosystem Overview Report 2023 will take place on December 7, during the online event Romania ClimAccelerator Demo Day.

The highlights of the Startarium competition “Romanians are entrepreneurs” were, of course, the two pitch finals, during which the competitors benefited from the support and encouragement of friends, partners and those passionate about business and entrepreneurship.

Adjacent scenes housed 6 learning pills for participants

In parallel with the pitching finals, on the secondary stages, the participants could take part in 6 learning sessions, presented in the form of masterclasses: “STELL*R principles for high performance”, supported by Adrian Florea, founder Trend Consult, “Money and Freedom – About Team, Vision and Autonomy in Business” by Ovidiu Toader, Business Coach, but also at sessions dedicated to cyber security – supported by Bogdan Botezatu, director Threat Research and Reporting Bitdefender, of sustainability – supported by Magdalena Caramilea, Director of Sustainability Autonom, communication and branding, alongside Andrei Lasc and Mihaela Joița, cofounders Poarta 9, and performing teams, session supported by Cosmin Alexandru, cofounder Teamology Institute.

The agrifood sector had a stage dedicated to Romanians are entrepreneurs

This year’s edition of the Agrifood Innovation Summit, organized by EIT Food and Impact Hub Bucharest, took place within the event “Romanians are entrepreneurs”, on a dedicated stage. Under the name of Agrifood Innovation Stage, the scene focused on the topic of innovations in agriculture and the food industry, addressing topics such as food safety, digital agriculture and sustainability.

The event included the launch of the report „Romanian Agrifood Startups Overview Report 2023″, which analyzes trends and challenges in the Romanian and European agri-food sector. The Romanian Agrifood Startups Overview Report, in its third edition in 2023, is a complex report that includes the mapping of Romanian startups in the agrifood industry involved in industry innovation. The report can be downloaded for free here.

The results of “Romanians are entrepreneurs”

The “Romanians are entrepreneurs” competition, under the new identity of the emblematic event Startarium Pitch Day, received over 220 entries for the 2023 edition. Entries were open from 12.10 to 12.11.2023, for the following categories: Your Idea, Startup and Running Ops. The cumulative value of the prizes offered is 100,000 euros, non-refundable.

More than 1100 people signed up to participate in the grand finale on November 29, at the Radisson Blu in Bucharest. 600 attended the venue and had 4 different stages and valuable opportunities to learn, inspire and connect with renowned speakers from the ecosystem. The grand finale brought 14 finalist teams to the main stage to deliver their pitches live, in front of the jury, investors, media and audience in attendance.

During the 4 previous editions of Startarium Pitch Day, organized between 2016 and 2019, more than 580 entrepreneurs competed, 155 businesses were supported, and 35 of them benefited from prizes totaling 450,000 euros.